Out-of-town Parking Violators On A Roll On Kissimmee Streets

November 19, 1989|By Ishmael Ahmad of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Out-of-town parking violators often, if not always, get away with illegal parking in Kissimmee.

Up to 450 parking citations - with fines ranging from $5 to $50 - are issued monthly by Kissimmee's 75 police officers and four community service aides, said Lt. Dean Putnam, a police administrator with the department.

Most tickets are issued for violations that include illegal parking in a handicapped space, overtime parking, parking in a fire lane and parking in no-parking zones, Putnam said. The highest fine is $50 for a handicap parking violation. An overtime violation will cost a driver $5.

There are no parking meters in Kissimmee. Most tickets are written in the vicinity of the Osceola County Courthouse, at other downtown locations and in shopping malls, Putnam said. Officers mark the tires of cars parked in time zones to monitor them for overtime violations, he said.

Between August 1988 and August 1989, police issued 2,410 parking tickets, which netted $24,252 for Kissimmee's general fund. And though Putnam could not say how many of the tickets have yet to be paid, he said the bulk probably belong to non-residents.

''So far, we really have not had a problem,'' Putnam said. But there is one exception - rental cars.

There is a 10-day period before payment is due. And rarely do out-of-state drivers pay their fines, either before they leave or afterward, Putnam said. Many tourists drive rental cars, and the companies are not held liable for the tickets, Putnam said.

''A guy from Massachusetts comes here, gets a parking ticket and then leaves town,'' Putnam said. ''You're on your merry way and we can't bring you back here for a parking ticket.''

After 10 working days have elapsed with no payment of the fine, a $10 penalty kicks in. After that, the offender will be notified to appear before a county judge concerning the fine.

In extreme cases, and Putnam said he could not recall any, police could issue an attachment against the car owner's license tag. That prohibits the owner of the car from getting new plates until the fine and any additional charges have been paid.

The city does not use the Denver Boot, a device that is attached to the wheel of an offender's car and immobilizes the car until the fines are paid, Putnam said. And he is unaware of plans to use one, he said.